Work raises central life questions: What values inspire our actions? How do we treat each other? What tasks do we have as humans? Is work half of life or a central place for self-fulfillment? The Future Work Report by the German job network Xing, in collaboration with the Trendbüro Munich, explores how we might work in the future.
Automation Demands Up- and Reskilling
“We must prepare for the fact that the changing work environment will require a lot of adaptability from employees and companies,” says Xing labor market expert Julian Stahl. “The era of completed transformations is giving way to continuous evolution.” According to the report, 23% of respondents believe their current job will not exist in its present form in 15 years.
Stahl stresses the importance of questioning and consciously unlearning established processes to create space for new ideas. A key component is focusing on re- and upskilling, especially in the low and middle-income sectors. Employees will need to undergo significant retraining and further education.
Although this sounds like potential mass unemployment, the report suggests otherwise. The authors state that the total number of jobs remains stable. The upcoming wave of retirements—around 30% of the workforce in Germany will retire by 2036—will offset some of the jobs lost to new technologies like artificial intelligence and robotics.
This shift presents opportunities in the way people work daily. The report notes that many jobs will move to regenerative manufacturing sectors, higher wage levels, or industries with significant human interaction. This could mean more meaningful work, better pay, and stronger relationships, benefiting especially blue-collar workers, or those working outside offices.
An often-cited example is healthcare. Nurses spend much time on repetitive tasks. AI-powered systems could handle monitoring vital signs, scheduling medication, or tracking patient data. This would free up time for more social interaction with patients.
Decoupling Workplace and Company
A trend that will continue, according to the report, is remote work. This will lead to increased internationalization of the workforce, affecting white-collar workers of all ages. “The desire to explore the world is no longer limited to younger employees. Generations are almost equal in their curiosity to discover the world,” states the report.
Nearly half of respondents (48%) believe flexible, hybrid work models will become more established. Employees will choose their living and working locations freely, as needed. For companies, this means conducting recruitment independently of location to reach every potential skilled worker. The report indicates that companies still have significant catching up to do in this area.
Thirty-eight percent of respondents confirm that their companies already have strategies in place. Fifty-four percent agree that location-independent recruiting can alleviate the skills shortage by 2040. The authors emphasize that HR departments should prepare for this trend, clarify legal frameworks, and develop strong strategies to compete globally.
Future Work Report: 13 Trends for the Future of Work
The Future Work Report by Xing, in collaboration with Trendbüro Munich, outlines 13 trends that show what, where, how, and with whom we will work in the future—from automation shifts to AI as a co-worker, fluid polywork, and conscious hybridity. The report surveyed 732 Xing members and 111 recruiters and HR managers from the job network.
The skills shortage is a significant challenge for employers. Learn how to take control of securing skilled workers with an up- and reskilling strategy.